Best Tips for Nurses - WIN $250! Nurses Week Contest 2018

[Brian S.]

You're overflowing with awesome tips. Now you can share them and have a chance to win money! For our fifth National Nurses Week 2018 Contest we want to hear your best tip for nurses. Maybe it's perfectly suited for an experienced nurse or maybe it works best for a nurse who is just entering the workforce. Whatever the case, tell us best tip for nurses in the comments below and you could be the winner of one of two $250 Amazon.com gift cards.

Even if our panel of all-knowing udges doesn't choose you as a grand prize winner, you could still be selected as one of two runner-ups and receive a cool prize package including everything shown below and MORE!

What are you waiting for? Let us know your best tip and get that much closer to winning!

There are more contests, too...

• Fill in the Blank Contest
  
• National Nurses Week Cartoon Caption Contest (sponsored bu rukuku)
  
• Patients Say the Darnedest Things Contest (sponsored by relode)
  
• Create a Meme Contest (sponsored by Performance Health)
  

Have fun, thanks to all of the nurses across the country and Happy National Nurses Week!!

[button=https://allnurses.com/national_nurses_week-info.html]National Nurses Week Celebration

30 Days of Celebration / 8 Days of Giveaways[/button]

UPDATED May 11 ... and the winner is...

As promised, the winner are posted below. Thanks for all of the awesome and creative entries!!! Feel free to share!

[jewels7278]

If you're unsure of how to do something, don't do it by yourself, better yet ask someone to walk/talk you through it. We've all been there (even the cocky nurses that act like they've never messed up before) have all been in the same situation. It's better to learn than to make a mistake that could cost someone their life and you your license.

[MayDas2018]

1. When ever you have a chance to chart do it ! Don't leave it till the end otherwise you will never leave on time!

2. Leave your dressings for the afternoon when most of the morning rush is over.

3.When you don't know whether to call a doctor regarding a patient concern, consult with your charge nurse or the most senior nurse on your unit- most times you may not need to call.

4. Always help your fellow nurses when they ask for help or when you see that they are struggling to keep up- they will appreciate it and they will likely refer the favor.

5. Never post about work or patient's on social media

[egm09100]

Reminder: Never tell your BLIND patient it is "nice to SEE them" or that youll "SEE them later. *Insert foot in mouth*

[Nurseways]

My Nursing Tips

After more than 25 years as a nurse, I have learned:

First, when you are getting shift report listen to what the other nurse has to say. Be respectful, clarify what you don't understand. If you feel for one minute, that the nurse left you with a mess, take a deep breath, instead of immediately questioning them why something wasn't done. You don't really know what that person has endured on their shift. A little kindness goes a long way.

Second, take everything with a grain of salt when a nurse tells you that a patient or their family member has ATTITUDE, is drug seeking, or is non-compliant. It may be true or it may not be true. Walk into that patient's room, like you know they are the BEST patient on the unit. Meet their needs, talk to them, and be sure and include their family. Answer all their questions.

Third, if you do not like something about your unit, you have a few options open to you. 1. Yo can complain about it 2. You can ignore it 3. You can get another job 4. You can find a solution to the problem and make things better. (BTW options 1 and 2 are what you REALLY shouldn't do!)

If you use just these three pieces of advice, you will be a much happier, valuable team member in your organization!

[RNLIFE19]

Take time for yourself. We as nurses always work hard. We have to remember to take time to do some of the things we love (spending time with family, vacationing, whatever our hearts desire). Taking time for ourselves can help us from becoming mentally drained.

[Latina4j]

Invest in really good compression stockings and dont forget your RandR time!

[floydn82]

Don't take anything said to you by an angry or confused patient personally.

Eat and pee when you have a second, the chance may not come again that shift.

Have nurse friends you can unwind with, they understand what you are dealing with.

[Angelnurse37]

I always pack a cold lunch with finger foods or grab and go food. It's never good to have to pick the nurse up off the floor.

[compassionresearcher]

If it doesn't mesh with the ANA nursing code of ethics or scientific rationale, then don't go along with it. Stand up and advocate for that patient.

[compassionresearcher]

Never stop reading, learning, keeping up with the latest developments. And find a mentor!

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

Take care of your mental health. It's easy to neglect but it will catch up to you. I ended up spending almost a week on a psychiatric unit because I took care of everyone but myself.

[AngelKissed857, BSN, RN]

Never be afraid to to say I don't know, just always add, but I'll find out and get back to you TODAY. Then do it. And never ever stop learning.